NCAA Division I FCS Football: A Comprehensive Overview of the Championship Subdivision Schedule

The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) represents a prominent tier within college football in the United States. Governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the FCS level showcases a unique blend of competitive spirit and academic focus. The 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season was no exception.

The 2025 Season Overview

The regular season for the 2025 FCS teams commenced on August 23 and extended through November, with the SWAC Football Championship Game taking place in early December. The culmination of the season is the FCS playoff bracket, which is typically released on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Key Dates and Changes

Several significant changes and milestones marked the 2025 FCS season:

Ivy League Participation: December 12, 2024, marked a pivotal moment as the Ivy League announced that its champion would participate in the FCS playoffs, starting with the 2025 season.
Conference Realignment:
- April 25: William & Mary revealed its departure from CAA Football, opting for associate membership in the Patriot League starting in the 2026 season.
Governance Structure: May 5: The Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) formalized its long-standing informal ties with the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). This also established a formal relationship between the MVFC and the non-football Summit League. Jeff Jackson, the MVC commissioner, succeeded Patty Viverito as the MVFC commissioner after her retirement on June 30. Josh Fenton, the Summit commissioner, assumed the new role of executive advisor at that time.
Division I Status: June 23: The NCAA Division I Board of Directors confirmed that St. Thomas had fulfilled all requirements to become a fully instated Division I university, effective from the 2025-26 academic year.
Scheduling Standardization: The regular season starting date was standardized to the Thursday 13 weeks before the FCS playoff bracket is released.
Rule Changes: The NCAA eliminated rule exceptions that previously allowed contests meeting specific criteria to be played as early as the second Saturday before Labor Day.
Conference Alliances: The Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and WAC announced that their football alliance, the UAC, would transition into an all-sports conference in 2026. The WAC will rebrand as the UAC at that time.
CAA Football Expansion: July 22: CAA Football announced that Sacred Heart would join the conference in 2026, ending the Pioneers' time as an FCS independent.

Uniform and Equipment Regulations

The Division I Administrative Committee introduced a proposal to expand the allowance of logos on student-athletes' uniforms and equipment beyond those of the manufacturer.

Transfer Portal Modifications

A single transfer window will run from January 2-16. The window for players undergoing a head coaching change was modified. The window for these players will open five calendar days after the hiring or public announcement of a new head coach, and run for 15 days. Should a school not hire or announce a new head coach after 30 days from the previous coach's departure, a separate 15-day window will open on the 31st day, provided that the 31st day is on or after January 3.

Noteworthy Games and Upsets

The 2025 FCS season witnessed several unexpected outcomes and thrilling contests:

FCS Kickoff: The season commenced with the FCS Kickoff game at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.
Upset Victories: Numerous FCS teams achieved victories against higher-ranked opponents, showcasing the competitive balance within the division. Some examples include:
- Presbyterian College's shocking win over No. 11 Mercer.
- Gardner-Webb's comeback victory against No. 19 Western Carolina.
- Lamar University's upset of No. 4 South Dakota.
- University of West Georgia's road win over No. 22 Nicholls.
- University of San Diego's overtime victory against No. 24 Southern Utah.
- Brown University's historic Governor's Cup win over No. 8/10 Rhode Island.
- University of Northern Colorado's road win against No. 11/13 Idaho.
- Eastern Kentucky University's victory over No. 15 Austin Peay.
- Youngstown State University's win against No. 9 Illinois State.
- Southern Utah University's triumph over No. 13 Austin Peay.
- Grambling State University's upset of No. 12 Jackson State.
- University of Dayton's victory against No. 16/19 Presbyterian.
- Idaho State University's win over No. 6 UC Davis.
- University of South Dakota's victory against No. 8 North Dakota.
- University of the Incarnate Word's win at Homecoming.
- Southern Utah University's triumph over No. 22 Austin Peay.
- University of New Hampshire's win against No. 6 Monmouth.
- Davidson College's victory against No. 23/25 Presbyterian.
- State University of New York at Albany's win against Monmouth.
- Weber State University's victory against NAU.
FBS Victories: Several FCS teams achieved victories over Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams, further highlighting the division's competitiveness. Some examples include:
- Tarleton State University's win against Army.
- Austin Peay State University's victory against Middle Tennessee.
- Bryant University's win against UMass.
- Long Island University's victory against Eastern Michigan.
- Webber International University’s victory against Stetson.
- Adrian College’s victory against Valparaiso.

Coaching Changes

Several coaching changes occurred during and after the 2025 season:

Southern University fired football coach Terrence Graves.
Samford University relieved head coach Chris Hatcher of his duties.
Weber State University fired its football coach.
Portland State University

2025-26 College Football Playoff

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) marked the second year of the 12-team format, adding excitement and expanding opportunities for teams across the nation. The bracket and matchups were revealed on Sunday, Dec. The games spanned from Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 19, 2026, with the championship game held in Miami Gardens, Fla.

First Round (Dec. 19-20)

Friday, Dec.: No. 9 Alabama 34, No.
Saturday, Dec.: No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 10, No.
No.
No. 5 Oregon 51, No.

Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)

Wednesday, Dec.: No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 24, No.
Thursday, Jan.: No. 5 Oregon 23, No.
No. 1 Indiana 38, No.
No. 6 Ole Miss 39, No.

Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)

Thursday, Jan.: No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 31, No.
Friday, Jan.: No. 1 Indiana 56, No.

CFP National Championship Game (Monday, Jan.)

No. 1 Indiana 27, No.
No. 4 Ohio State 42, No.
No. 2 Alabama 45, No.
No. 2 Clemson 35, No.
No. 4 Alabama 26, No.
No. 2 Clemson 44, No.
No. 1 LSU 42, No.
No. 1 Alabama 52, No.
No. 3 Georgia 33, No.
No. 1 Georgia 65, No.
No. 1 Michigan 34, No.
No. 8 Ohio State 34, No.
No. 1 Indiana 27, No.

2027-2029 Playoff Dates

2027: Jan.
2028: Jan.
2029: Jan.

2026-27 College Football Playoff

Friday, Dec. 20: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No.
Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 6 Penn State 38, No.
Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 5 Texas 38, No.
Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 8 Ohio State 42, No.

Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan.)

Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No.
Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No.
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No.
Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No.

Semifinals (Jan.)

Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No.
Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 28, No.

Playoff Results

No. 8 Ohio State 34, No.

New Programs and Conference Changes

The 2025 season saw new entrants and significant conference realignments:

New FCS Programs: Two schools played their inaugural FCS seasons in 2025, one transitioning from NCAA Division II and the other launching its first varsity football season.
Conference USA Expansion: Conference USA (CUSA) welcomed Delaware and Missouri State as new members in 2025.
Northeast Conference (NEC) Expansion: The University of New Haven accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference.
Southland Conference Expansion: UTRGV Athletics accepted an invitation to join the Southland Conference in 2024-25.
Big Sky Conference Expansion: The Big Sky Conference welcomed Southern Utah and Utah Tech starting in 2026.
Southern Conference Expansion: The Southern Conference approved Tennessee Tech membership.
Patriot League Expansion: Villanova joined the Patriot League as an associate member for football in 2026.
Chicago State University: Chicago State University added a football program, becoming Chicago's only NCAA Division I program.

Other Notable Events

Stadium Recognition: Morehead State recognized Phil Simms with an honorary stadium naming during Homecoming.
Game Cancellation: The UC Davis-Mercer game was declared a no contest after a long weather delay.
Bowl Ban: Akron was handed a 2025 bowl ban due to failing to meet NCAA academic standards.
Sacramento State Waiver Denial: The NCAA denied Sacramento State's FBS waiver for the 2026 season.
Saint Francis University Reclassification: Saint Francis University reclassified to NCAA Division III and joined the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

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